The state’s jobless
rate remained stable in March at 3.2 percent, the same as in February, the
Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) is reporting.

With the exception
of one month when it was equal (October 2014), Indiana’s unemployment rate
has now been lower than the national rate for more than four years, DWD
said.

The monthly
unemployment rate is a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicator which
reflects the number of unemployed people seeking employment within the prior
four weeks as a percentage of the labor force.

Indiana’s labor
force had a net increase of 7,513 over the previous month, DWD said. This
was a result of 2,077 unemployed Hoosiers no longer seeking employment with
the past four weeks, and a 9,590 increase in residents employed. Indiana’s
total labor force, which includes both Hoosiers employed and those seeking
employment, stands at 3.32 million, while the state’s 63.8-percent
labor-force participation rate remains above the national rate of 62.9
percent.

In addition, DWD
said, the state’s initial unemployment insurance claims continue to be at
historic lows.

Private sector
employment has grown by more than 27,300 over the year, and has increased by
4,300 over the previous month.

Gains were
partially offset by losses in leisure and hospitality (-300); and financial
activities (-200).

Regionally and
Locally

Here in Northwest
Indiana, the jobless rate dropped significantly in March, after spiking for
several consecutive months.

In Porter County
the seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate in March fell by more than half
a point, to 3.9 percent from 4.5 percent in February (4.6 percent in March
2017).

In Lake County the
unemployment rate in March dropped by half a point, to 5.1 percent from 5.6
percent in February (5.6 percent in March 2017). In LaPorte County the
unemployment rate in March also dropped by more than half a point, to 4.6
percent from 5.2 percent in February (5.3 percent in March 2017).

In Chesterton the
unemployment rate in March dropped marginally, to 3.9 percent from 4.1
percent in February (4.3 percent in March 2017).

In Valparaiso the
unemployment rate in March fell by half a point, to 3.3 percent from 3.8
percent in February (4.3 percent in March 2017).

In Portage the
unemployment rate in March dropped by more than half a point, to 4.6 percent
from 5.2 percent in February (5.4 percent in March 2017).

Unemployment rates
elsewhere in March:

* In Gary the rate
slipped to 7.1 percent, from 7.3 percent in February (7.4 percent in March
2017).

* In East Chicago
the rate dropped by more than half a point, to 7.1 percent from 7.7 percent
in February (8.1 percent in March 2017).

* In Hammond the
rate fell to 5.5 percent, from 5.8 percent in February (5.9 percent in March
2017).

* In Michigan City
the rate dropped by more than half a point, to 4.7 percent from 5.3 percent
in February (5.7 percent in March 2017).

* In LaPorte, the
rate fell by more than half a point, to 4.3 percent from 5.0 percent in
February (4.9 percent in March 2017).

Alternative
Measures

The official
national unemployment rate in March was stable at 4.1 percent, the same as
in February (4.6 percent in March 2017).

However--according
to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics--if “discouraged workers.” all other
“marginally attached workers,” and “total part-time for economic reasons”
are included in the tally, then the unofficial national unemployment rate in
March was 8.0 percent, down from 8.2 percent in February (8.9 percent in
March 2017).

Marginally attached
workers are those who indicate “that they want a job, have looked for work
in the last 12 months (or since the last time they worked if they worked in
the last 12 months), and are available for work.”

“Discouraged
workers” are not currently looking for work for several reasons, including
their belief that no job is available to them in their line or in their
area.

Persons employed
part-time for economic reasons are those “who want and are available for
full-time work but have had to settle for a part-time schedule.”